Improvement in hinges



E. 50 l LEAU Hinges.

Patented August 19, 1873.

Witnesses;

AM. mormumosmmuc co. mfassomzls Peace-3s) UNITED STATES ATENT IMPROVEMENT IN HINGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 141,989, dated August 19, 1873 application filed July 26, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ETIENNE BOILEAU, of the city and county of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented an Improved Gate- Hinge, of which the following is a spccifica tion:

My invention consists in constructing the male or fixed member of a self-closing gatehinge with a pintle projecting upward from the forward extremity of a conoidal base, which connects said pintle to its attachingplate, leaving a space in the rear of the pintle, between it and the gate-post, to permit the passage of the spiral or inclined wings or flanges of the moving or female member of the hinge, which flanges are elongated in the form of horns, projecting horizontally over and in front of the pintle-base in the closed condition of the hinge, and passing behind the pintle in the open position, the large radius of the arcs formed by said flanges adapting them to afford steep inclines in order to close the gate more effectively, and the prolongations or horns of said inclines causing them-to be effective, though the gate may be opened tothe extent of one hundred and eighty degrees or more.

I am aware that self-closing hinges have before been constructed with inclined surfaces extending completely around the pintle; but by my plan of forming the double incline eccentric to the pintle on the inner side thereof, and arranging the inclined wings of the upper member to work in connection therewith, l increase the extent and effectiveness of the inclined surfaces, on which the gravitation of the gate acts to close it. a

In order that my invention may be more clearly understood, I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved hinge in its closed condition. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same open. Fig. 3 is a side view of the male or fixed member. Fig. 4; is a plan of the upper or moving member. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the inner face of the inclined wings. Fig. 6 is an edge view of the same.

A represents the upper, and B the lower,

member of the hinge. The latter consists of the customary attaching-plate j, with bolts k to receive screws for attaching it to the gatepost, the double-inclined or conoidal shoulders l l, and the pintle m. The shoulders I 1 form the base of the pintle m, which latter rises vertically from the forward edge ofthis conoidal base, leaving between the pintle and the face of the gatepost a space for the passage of the eccentric spiral wings a if of the upper memher A. a is the attaching-plate of the member A, provided with the customary screwholes I), and connected by shoulders at d with the inclined flanges c i, which are eccentric to the pintle m and rest upon the eccentric conoidal base Z Z, the horns f f forming prolongations of these inclines, and giving the hinge a self-closing action with a range of one hundred and eighty degrees or more. The pintlesocket is constituted of the openings h h, bounded in front by the flanges c t f and at back by the bar a. In the closed position of the hinge, illustrated in Fig. 1, the flange c i f will be seen to project downward in front of the pintle. All the parts of the hinge are well constructed for strength, and are not liable to obstruction by ice and consequent fracture. The inclines 0 if being made alike above and below, and the inclined shoulders l l alike on both sides of the center, adapts the hinge for use in either right or left position.

I claim as my invention- The pintle-base Z Z, constructed with an upper surface in convex conoidal form, inclined in both directions from an apex or ridge in rear of the pintle m, which latter projects upward from the forward margin of the base, leaving a space between the said pintle and the attachin g-leaf of the hinge, in combination with the socket-piece, having concave camsurfaces projecting in front of the pintle-base when the hinge is closed, and prolonged in the form of horns f, to allow an extended move ment and permit the gate to close automatically from any point, all as herein described. ETIENNE BOILEAU.

Witnesses:

Oornvrus KNIGHT, WALTER ALLEN. 

